Lander gets Paajarvi preview

In another life Magnus Paajarvi could work for the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.

During a season in which the Oilers finished 30th Paajarvi still managed to convince Anton Lander that there's no better place to be than here.

"I talked to (Paajarvi) a lot about the town and the organization and he only says good things," said Lander, who received regular scouting reports from his former Swedish Elite League teammate. "It was a tough season, losing games, but he said what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. He's a strong guy, tough guy mentally."

They say Lander, Edmonton's second pick (40th overall) behind Paajarvi (10th overall) in the 2009 draft, is cut from the same cloth. He's a two-way centre who's good on the draw and great in the room. He wants to join his pal in Edmonton as soon as possible.

"Hopefully this year," the six-foot, 194 pounder said after the second day of Oilers development camp. "I'm going to come to training camp and do my best. We'll see what happens. I'll go home to Timra and have a good summer of ice and see what happens."

Thanks to Paajarvi, he already knows what to expect.

"He says it's tough," said Lander. "He said the D are stronger and bigger and they want to have you on the outside. It's much harder to try and get ice behind the D, but you have to learn."